Actually it depends on one's level at the language. In the British Council there are sixteen levels in order to assess one's level at English. So if you have first level you are a novice, if you have sixteenth level you are as good as a native speaker.

In 2002 I got through an FCE exam so my level was 13th.
I think that for many people who have this level it's sort of waste of time learning all this stuff before, say, forteenth level or even higher levels. So if one doesn't feel necessity it's of no use to study these words. And teachers should not spend their time during lessons explaing to students how to use them.

the teacher should not teach the taboo words on anything purpoes or avoid them for any worries ,when he or she meets some cussed words during the lessons ,just meet it and go ahead smoothly and naturally .And i think the students has the right to know anything closely relate to them .

Hmm... one day i practised my French with native speakers... i was telling a story and suddenly said a word which made them look at me in surprise whispering 'how could you say that' ... lately i was explained it was extremely rude to use that word... so before openin' your mouth be sure that u really know an exact meaning of the word and if it is ok to say that one...

Of course, i wouldn't have made such a mistake if my teacher had told me about taboo words in time... but at lessons we don't have enough time to learn important things not only taboo stuff... so don't forget about self-education especially when we have such a lot of sites explaining slang... For instance, here

this is a hard question. i mean i do use a little bit of bad words but, have you talked to someone who says nothing but bad words when they are not even trying to be funny?

i think teachers should explain that saying bad words doesn't look good and that they will not get you anywhere. sure sometimes they are funny but in certain situations, not all the time. anyway everyone is going to end up learning these words, but it is better to explain what they are and what consecuences they have then to teach them all these words.

and if i had a kid and came home talking nothing but bad words and said that the teacher taught them to him, i would knock the ~ out of this teacher

First of all, I'd like to say hi to all members, I have just joined to this forum and happy to be member of it,as well.

Thinking of no necessary to teach to students taboo words, those usage will be able to be negative impact for the basic aducation sytem,the better way is to leave those usage in daily life which are going to give the best response in the course of time with enough tolerans.

I think only native speakers can use them properly.....and understand these bad wors.....so it is not possible for nonnative english teachers to teach the words.........some fuuny mistakes will made...... i think......

learning taboo words is at least not bad in my opinion. knowing these words can help you to avoid when talking especially in foreign language ! learning new things is not bad but abusing them !
in class we rarely be taught taboo words. coming here i hope to learn new things from friends all over the world, and so do you, right ? difference in cultures makes us some times misunderstand each other. discuss things openly is good for all of us !
can anyone teach me some taboo words ? how to use it? in what case?[/code]

Taboo words should be taught. You should know what people are saying to you.

I remember when I first came to America. I was trying to practice English at the mall. The sales woman did not like me and she called me a "stupid foreign ----." (I remember the last word she said but I don't want to type it ).

I was not sure she was making an insult. I knew "stupid" could be bad, but I wasn't sure.

But I knew she was insuling me because of my friend. He was very upset and he made us leave the store.

The lady was smiling. She talked like she was being nice but used the bad words. If I was alone I would not have been sure about the insult. If I had known the bad words, I would have been sure.

This is why I think teachers should teach taboo words. It is important to know what people are saying to you. We cannot know that for certain if we don't know the words they are using.

Teachers must use correct words with students. Some times is difficult don’t use taboo words into or out of classroom. I think that teachers can contribute to improve our vocabulary. These words are easy to learn, but it is not a good idea when you learn a new language. Really it is pleasant to listen a person speak correctly.

subway wrote:why not? i think a students have to know and also they should not use. as you know, many movies show kind of those words until became common.

Why would anyone want those words to become common? Are there not enough words and phrases in the language already?

My advice would be that one should learn how to speak and write the language first before one starts learning nasty words. They are of little use anywhere apart from on a street-corner with people of limited vocabulary.

Janette wrote:I remember when I first came to America. I was trying to practice English at the mall. The sales woman did not like me and she called me a "stupid foreign ----." (I remember the last word she said but I don't want to type it ).

It's not you who needs to learn English my friend, it's the rude sales woman.

To me, there are no taboo words. What really exist are dirty words, nasty words or the like.

shokin wrote:Humour is necessary. Let us break the taboo !

I agree with you that humor is necessary. We need it so that our life will not be boring. But I don't think that it's a good idea to make a joke by using dirty words.

There are some comedians use dirty words to attract the audience. On the other side, there are some who don't use dirty words to attract the audience. To me, the later is much better that the first one. And based on the reality, the first one, sooner or later, will be left by the audience.

Dirty words are not good to be used by comedians let alone by teachers. In my opinion, teachers shouldn't teach dirty words to students. Period!!!

The function of a teacher is not only to transfer the knowledge but also being a role model for the students. What would happen if many teachers used dirty words in their daily conversations. What a nightmare!!!

chet baker wrote: I think the teacher should tell their students what is taboo word, so that students can avoid to use these words in public

Dirty words do not need to be taught at all. If you want your students to speak properly just teach them proper words and sentences. Then they’ll get used to those words and they'll spontaneously use them. On the other hand, if you teach them dirty words, then they will be familiar with those words and the consequence is: they'll spontaneously use them in their conversations. As we all know that the more we pronounce a word the more spontaneous we use it. That's why, in learning a language, we are suggested to read words or sentences repeatedly so that we'll spontaneously use them in our daily conversations.

My friend you don't need to worry that they will not know dirty words. They will get them in their life soon. As we all know that children are very curious on dirty words. So Event though you don't teach them dirty words, usually they will find the words themselves.

So, in this case, I agree with intboy who says :

intboy wrote: I don't think the teachers need to teach those, as the students will learn those around their life, and teachers must teach something more useful, I think.

My last point is : to speak properly, all we need to do is to practice saying good words and sentences. If we don't know bad or dirty words, that's even better so that our sentences will not be contaminated with dirty words.

English teachers should teach taboo words to students. What do you think?

Definitely I disagree with that.
School it's an academic institution/organization and it's not appropriate to teach this taboo words to students. Usually we learn this words from movies or daily speaking but sure not in the school. And I see it impolite thing.